Page 25 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

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Introduction———xxv

and not structured the same way as secular groups of telecommunication systems, and continuous worldwide
earlier periods media coverage. Unfortunately, extraordinary techno-
However, the lack of obvious hierarchy does not logical advances that further enhance humankind’s
mean that the work of this new breed is less devastating capabilities also open up new venues for terrorist use
than earlier generations of terrorists—indeed, the will- and abuse. Cyberspace is particularly illustrative of this
ingness of members of terrorist groups such as new frontier of vulnerabilities.
Al Qaeda to participate in suicide attacks opens up Innovation and invention in this new century will
heretofore unknown possibilities for devastation. clearly necessitate international cooperation to deal
Without a doubt, the events of September 11, 2001, with the scourge of terrorism. The use of the Internet
illustrate in no uncertain terms the extent of their to recruit potential terrorists is widely practiced
destruction. In many ways, the destructive capabilities throughout the world. Incendiary rhetoric in cyber-
of this new breed of terrorists will exceed terrorist space excludes not even those lacking computer
events of the past and will be considerably enhanced by access. All will be affected by the cyber reach of the
new opportunities created by innovation and invention. terrorist. No longer is it possible to withdraw into
These new terrorist organizations live and operate political or geographical isolation. Communicating,
in a world made smaller by cheap airline tickets and or for that matter, tampering with cyberspace, affects
carriers that circumnavigate the globe in hours rather the world in much the same way as the threat of
than days. Their global reach is further enhanced by nuclear or radiological terrorism. This is the reality, as
instantaneous financial transactions, economical well as the alarming reach, of the new terrorism.